far more dreadful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far more dreadful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize a comparison, indicating that something is significantly worse or more frightening than another thing. Example: "The storm was far more dreadful than anyone had anticipated, causing widespread panic among the residents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He finished with 16 points in 30 minutes during a 107-97 loss that was far more dreadful than the margin would indicate.

The New York Times - Sports

If the EU, China and others were to be denied entry to the council, they would no doubt try to raise Arctic issues elsewhere, probably at the UN, which is a far more dreadful prospect for Arctic countries.

The Economist

The Kremlin should admit that Stalin was Hitler's accomplice before 1941, and that this nefarious alliance made the war far more dreadful than it otherwise would have been, not least for the people of the Soviet Union.

The Economist

Of course to err is human, but to err ceaselessly over the better part of a decade at the cost of one country, Vietnam, ravaged physically and another, the U.S., ravaged psychically, socially, and politically, and of 44 thousand American and God knows how many Vietnamese lives lost seems something far more dreadful than any thing implied by such morally weightless nouns as "failure" and "mistake".

The New Yorker

On the other hand, the price you are paying, Senator McCain, is far more dreadful.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The murderous attack on a school in Peshawar has appalled people around the world, but perhaps even more dreadful is that this is far from an isolated incident.

BBC

"The dreadful Paris attacks make the case for a far more urgent effort to reach a negotiated settlement of the civil war in Syria and the end to the threat from Isis," he said.

The Guardian

One result of this dreadful situation is that border towns in both countries, but far more so in Mexico, have seen their economies disappear.

The Washington Post

And something extremely rare that kills in a particularly dreadful way, like a shark attack, evokes more fear than something far more common that kills in a less gruesome manner, like a heart attack.

The New York Times

"Home of the Vols" says the pale orange sign towering over this dreadful cousin of the Coliseum, making it perfectly clear to the scientists crammed inside it that football is far more important to Knoxville than forensics.

The New York Times - Magazine

Far more.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far more dreadful" to emphasize a significant increase in the severity or unpleasantness of a situation, event, or feeling. It adds a layer of intensity compared to simply saying something is "dreadful".

Common error

Avoid stacking multiple intensifiers. While "far more dreadful" is acceptable, adding another intensifier (e.g., "very far more dreadful") can sound redundant and weaken the impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far more dreadful" functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. The adverb "far" modifies "more dreadful", emphasizing the extreme degree of unpleasantness or horror. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far more dreadful" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe something exceptionally unpleasant. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is used in various news and media outlets to emphasize the severity of situations. While relatively rare, it effectively conveys a heightened sense of negativity or fear, marking a significant increase in the intensity of something already considered "dreadful". Remember to use this phrase judiciously, avoiding overuse of intensifiers for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerably more appalling

Emphasizes the shocking and offensive nature of something to a greater extent.

substantially more terrible

Highlights the severe and frightening aspects with greater force.

significantly more awful

Indicates a notable increase in unpleasantness or horribleness.

much more horrifying

Focuses specifically on the fear-inducing quality of something, intensified.

vastly more frightening

Stresses the large degree to which something inspires fear.

appreciably more alarming

Highlights a noticeable and concerning increase in something's worrying nature.

markedly more distressing

Points to a distinct and significant increase in emotional upset.

noticeably more alarming

Emphasizes the ease with which something generates awareness.

measurably more dire

Draws awareness to how the circumstances have worsened.

infinitely more ghastly

Implies an immeasurable increase in repulsiveness or horror.

FAQs

How can I use "far more dreadful" in a sentence?

You can use "far more dreadful" to emphasize that something is considerably worse than something else. For example, "The consequences of failure were "far more dreadful" than he had imagined".

What's a less formal way to say "far more dreadful"?

For a less formal alternative, consider using "much worse" or "way more awful". These options convey a similar meaning but are suitable for more casual contexts.

Is it grammatically correct to say "far more dreadful"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase uses "far more" as an intensifier to strengthen the adjective "dreadful".

What is the difference between "dreadful" and "far more dreadful"?

"Dreadful" describes something unpleasant or of poor quality. "Far more dreadful" emphasizes that something is significantly worse or more frightening than just "dreadful".